Pellet sniping causing damage in West Saanich

A series of incidents involving pellets being shot at people and windows in West Saanich has prompted police to put out a warning to the public.

A 20-year-old man sustained a minor elbow injury when he was shot with what he believed was a pellet gun while walking near Normandy Road and Elk Lake Drive around 4 p.m. on July 3.

He told police his attacker was in a gold-coloured four-door sedan, and was brandishing a handgun-style pellet gun. One suspect was described as a 25-year-old balding man with a thin build.

Since June 27, a number of car windows and storefront windows have also been shot out, presumably by pellets, in West Saanich.

Three vehicles were targeted in the 4200- to 4500-blocks of Wilkinson Rd. overnight on June 27, a business in the 4600-block of West Saanich Rd. had five windows damaged on July 2, and a car and glass door at a store at Beaver and Beaver Lake roads were damaged on July 4. Police say the business’s door was valued at $12,000.

“We can certainly say the mischief incidents appear to be related, given the time that they have taken place. And we believe that it is likely somebody that lives in that area,” said Sgt. Steve Eassie.

While police have no suspects in the broken window incidents, Eassie said that the fact that it’s summer might have something to do with it.

“We can’t say for certain who is responsible for these incidents … but it is possible, given the fact that school is now out, that this may be related to a youth or several youths in the area,” he said. “We would like to remind all of our parents and guardians that live within the municipality that the discharge of a firearm, which includes air pellet guns, spring pellet guns and things of the like, is prohibited.

“So if someone has one of those items and their children have access to them, we would ask that they deter their children from being able to use those items or prohibit them from doing so,” Eassie said.

Police are asking anyone with information on any of these incidents to call 250-475-4321.